K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo picks up the assist, but he may not want credit for that one.
BENZEMA HAS HIS SECOND! Kroos plays through Jese, who picks out Ronaldo in the centre. In acres of space the Portuguese forward somehow isn't able to control, but Benzema arrives to clean up the mess and send a shot flying into the top corner.
90'
There will be one minute added on at the end of this match.
88'
PEPE TO THE RESCUE! Quite poor from Madrid for the first time tonight as they go to sleep at the back, allowing Deportivo through. Luis Albero sets up Lucas in the centre with Navas parried, but he's too nonchalant in taking the chance which allows Pepe to slide in from behind and preserve the clean sheet!
86'
The hosts are still searching for a fifth. They aren't attacking with nearly the same tempo they had earlier of course, but there are still plenty of bodies getting forward for them when to do attack, as everyone seems to want a goal to celebrate this occasion.
84'
STAT: Deportivo have won just once in their last 30 games at the Bernabeu in La Liga (D4, L25), 0-1 in October 2004.
82'
CLOSE! Ronaldo nearly has his goal as he's picked out by a delightful pass from Modric. He breaks into the area via the right channel, but he drags his shot across the face of goal and just inches wide of the far post!
80'
SENSATIONAL SAVE! Luis Alberto sends a lightning bolt at goal from distance and it is heading in at the far post, but Navas reacts brilliantly to dive across and parry it behind for a corner.
78'
Real Madrid have slowed their approach drastically, while Deportivo are afforded more time in possession. The visitors pass it around without much of a threat near the halfway line, but are struggling to advance into the final third. The clean sheet will mean as much to Real Madrid as the three points.
76'
James shows great skill to elude a defender atop the area, and even better vision to play through Ronaldo, but the forward is denied by the offside flag. He's not having his best night and despite the scoreline. Not one to be outdone, he appears a bit frustrated with his inability to get in on the fun.
Minute
Description
74'
Jesé enters the game and replaces G. Bale.
The loudest applause of the night occurs as Bale is substituted for the final 15 minutes. He's had a remarkable night, to say the least, and is deserving of every one of these cheers. Jese is on in his place.
72'
STAT: Gareth Bale's hat-trick is the third for a Real Madrid player in the last five meetings with Deportivo. Cristiano Ronaldo has the other two.
70'
Alejandro Arribas gets yellow.
Arribas trips up Benzema cynically, which sees him into the referee's book. It has been a tough night for the centre-half.
68'
HOW ABOUT THAT FROM BALE! He tracks all the way back and puts in a tremendous last-ditch challenge inside his own area to deny Luis Alberto what looked like a sure consolation goal! The fans absolutely love that.
66'
Luisinho enters the game and replaces Fernando Navarro.
Oriol Riera enters the game and replaces F. Fajr.
J. Rodríguez enters the game and replaces Isco.
A second change for the hosts as James Rodriguez is introduced at the expense of Isco.
Substitution Fernando Navarro i Corbacho Luis Carlos Correia Pinto
Oriol Riera is the second player off the bench for Deportivo, replacing Fajr.
64'
Pedro Mosquera gets yellow.
Mosquera becomes the first player booked, for a cynical challenge just seconds after play resumes.
63'
G. Bale has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by T. Kroos.
Wonderful delivery from Kroos to pick out Bale with his delivery and register the assist.
HAT-TRICK FOR BALE! Perhaps no one is more rejuvenated by the change in manager than Gareth Bale, who has his third goal of the night as he rises to meet Kroos' corner and send a thumping header beyond the reach of Lux.
61'
STAT: Real Madrid have lost just one of their last 26 league games at the Santiago Bernabeu (W22 D3), which came against Barcelona.
59'
The impact of the two full-backs also has Zidane's name stamped all over it. The Frenchman loves to get his full-backs forward and the likes of Marcelo and Carvajal have played a crucial role tonight for the hosts going forward, giving Bale and Ronaldo freedom to roam.
57'
He's only been in charge for a short while but you can already see the effect Zidane has had on this team. Their work ethic is significantly better tonight and we are seeing a sort of desire from them that hasn't been apparent in some time under Benitez.
55'
The visitors get forward and Mosquera does well to find a pocket of space and win a corner. The ensuing delivery is dealt with comfortably by Madrid, however. The hosts have been picked apart once or twice at the back, but they do look a lot more convincing tonight otherwise.
53'
This one appears all done and dusted. Deportivo aren't the type of side to just lay down and let the game get out of hand, though. They are coached too well to allow that to happen. They still have some fight left in them and will be eager to at least break the clean sheet.
51'
STAT: Deportivo have allowed the joint-fewest shots in La Liga this season (175), level with Barcelona.
49'
G. Bale has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Good vision from Ronaldo to pick out Bale for his sixth assist of the season.
THREE GOALS AND THREE POINTS SURELY FOR MADRID! Bale delays his run to make himself available for Ronaldo's pullback and slots home an absoluely gorgeous first-time finish that beats Porto Lux at his near post.
48'
Even start to the second half as Deportivo coming out showing a bit more desire and intent. They don't have much of a choice but to attack, and have shown they are capable of breaking down this Real Madrid back line, but need to start throwing caution to the wind.
46'
J. Gutiérrez enters the game and replaces F. Cartabia.
R. Varane enters the game and replaces Sergio Ramos.
Back underway at the Bernabeu!
Ex-Newcastle winger Jonas is also introduced at the break, for Deportivo, replacing Cartabia who had been largely invisible.
Sergio Ramos is withdrawn, having just recently returned to full fitness, with Raphael Varane replacing him for the final 45 minutes.
45'
HALF TIME: REAL MADRID 2-0 DEPORTIVO.
44'
The tempo slows a bit as we approach the interval. Deportivo are trying to simply see this one through to the break without conceding a third. They actually manage to catch Real Madrid asleep at the back momentarily, and Juanfran's cross is ushered behind by Carvajal for a corner.
42'
The announced attendance is just over 71,500 fans at the Bernabeu. It's a good turnout, but far from a full house for Zidane's first game in charge. Those who did come out have been graced with a wildly entertaining first half of football.
40'
WHAT A GOAL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN! Absolutely remarkable buildup play as Real Madrid pass their way through the heart of midfield en route to attack. Bale sends a perfect cross to Ronaldo at the far post, but the forward's header crashes off the frame of the goal and away from harm.
38'
STAT: Real Madrid have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 La Liga matches, in a 2-0 victory at Eibar back at the end of November.
36'
Not too far away! Navas dives across at full stretch but he can't get to the far post in time as Lucas' shot comes in from the top of the area after an excellent turn. He tries to place a shot in the far corner, but watches it drift agonisingly wide. A foot to the left and he has his goal.
34'
AGAIN! This one was even simpler for Marcelo who only needed a slight chipped pass to pick out a wide open Bale at the far post, but again he tries to force a ball to Ronaldo and Sidnei is able to cut it out.
32'
He picked out the wrong pass! Clever interplay between Ronaldo and Marcelo on the left, which springs the Brazilian into space. He has Benzema making a run in the centre in space, but instead tries to square for CR7 who was crying out for a pass - though it was always going to be difficult for Marcelo to pick him out.
30'
Lucas gets another sight at goal as he's played through behind Pepe. The pace behind the pass takes him to a tight angle, however, and he can only lift a left-footed shot high and wide of the near corner.
28'
STAT: Deportivo have lost just one of their last eleven league games away from home (W3, D7), dating back to last season, including a pair of 2-2 draws at Barcelona.
26'
MADRID HUNGRY FOR MORE! Deportivo barely hanging on here, to no fault of their own. The hosts smell blood and are playing with such an unbreakable focus. Ronaldo is picked out in the left channel and cuts onto his right, sending a shot glancing just wide of the far post. A third appears imminent.
24'
Go back to the save from Navas on Lucas, with the game still scoreless. If that one went in, the air would have been sucked out of the building and panic would have set it. But Navas came up huge for this team and it's shaping up to be a much happier night in the capital as a result.
22'
G. Bale has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Dani Carvajal.
TWO FOR LOS BLANCOS AND ZIZOU! It's a real team goal from Real Madrid, as there's so many moving pieces involved in the buildup play. Carvajal's cross in from the right is picture-perfect for Bale who places an unstoppable header in at the far post.
Wonderful run from Carvajal and an even better cross as he picks up the assist.
21'
INCHES AWAY! Deportivo have not seen a ton of the ball, but they certainly look capable of scoring when they do get forward. Cartabia makes strides down the right and nearly places a cross on the head of Lucas, but the striker can't climb high enough to meet it.
19'
The goal has done wonders to alleviate the pressure on Real Madrid and the tension on the touchline. They're getting forward with great confidence now and are starting to see the majority of the ball. Deportivo need to get through this difficult stretch without conceding a second.
17'
STAT: Deportivo have kept clean sheets in two of their last three La Liga matches away from home, coming at the end of a run in which they conceded in 13 consecutive league games on their travels.
15'
G. Lux gets yellow.
K. Benzema has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Sergio Ramos.
Excellent stuff from Ramos as well to keep the pressure on following a corner and whip the ball right back into the danger area. It looked like more of a shot from the centre-half, but it set up Benzema perfectly.
REAL OFF AND RUNNING! There's the first goal of the Zidane era and it's Benzema who gets it, courtesy of an impressive back-heel finish. Deportivo plead for an offside flag to be shown, but their protests fall upon deaf ears and rightfully so as Arribas was playing the striker onside.
Yellow card Germán Darío Lux
13'
Deportivo have really started to find their legs and continue to grow into the game. You can almost sense the anxiety in the Real Madrid side, which is fair to expect considering the pressure on them to perform for their new coach. They desperately need a goal to help settle things down.
11'
NAVAS TO THE RESCUE! Terrific buildup play from Deportivo and Lucas gets on the end of it, the striker sprung through behind the defence. He has a clean look at goal, but Navas does so well to attack the ball and make himself big to keep it out! That should have been the opener for the visitors!
9'
SAFETY FIRST! After Navas is forced into a comfortable save from a Fajr shot at one end, Real Madrid counter quickly and feed the ball to their talisman Ronaldo. He's able to step inside his marker and drive a powerful strike towards the near post, and Lux takes no chances in diving across to knock it behind.
7'
STAT: Real Madrid have gone nine league games in a row without a defeat against Deportivo (W8, D1). They have won four in a row by a combined score of 17-4.
5'
CLOSE! An incredible ball over the top proves enticing for Ronaldo to chase. The Portuguese forward gets the better of |Arribas, but can't produce the slight touch needed to take the ball past Poroto Lux.
3'
Zidane is keen on playing attacking football, and he loves to get the two full-backs forward. The early run of Carvajal on the overlap opens up space for Bale who wips a terrific ball in from the right, but Isco just fails to meet it. Electrifying start from the hosts!
1'
The Zidane era is underway!
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Real Madrid as they play host to Deportivo La Coruna at the Santiago Bernabeu, as the Zinedine Zidane era gets underway. That’s right, a fresh face will be dawning the coaches role for Los Blancos this evening in the form of the ex-Madridista and France international. The former World Cup winner has his work cut out for him, trailing leaders Atletico by four points, and Barcelona (who have a game in hand) by two. Fans have been crying out for the dismissal of Rafa Benitez for some time now, but the next few weeks will go a long way in determining if it was the right move.
Deportivo find themselves on the right side of the table, in seventh place, as they get set to complete the first half of the season. A large reason for their success this season can be attributed to their play away from home, where they have only lost once this campaign. It’s a remarkable run they are on, and much of their success has to be attributed to Victor Sanchez, but they face a very tough test today against a motivated Real Madrid side eager to turn a new leaf.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema.
SUBS: Manu Fernandez, Oriol Riera, Juan Dominguez, Laure, Luisinho, Lopo, Jonas.
Zinedine Zidane's first Real Madrid XI comes with few surprises. He has made a pair of changes, however, with Isco stepping in for the suspended Mateo Kovacic and Daniel Carvajal the preferred starter at right-back ahead of Danilo. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric maintain their partnership in midfield, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale flank Karim Benzema in attack.
Victor Sanchez has named an unchanged starting lineup to the one which fell 2-1 to Villarreal last weekend, after rotating his squad during Copa del Rey action midweek. Lucas is the lone striker, supported by Luis Alberto dropping just in behind, with Fede Cartabia and Faycal Fajr navigating the flanks. Alex Bergantinos and Pedro Mosquera provide cover for the back four, while wing-backs Juanfran and Fernando Navarro should have their hands full with the duo of Ronaldo and Bale.
The return of legend Zinedine Zidane to the Santiago Bernabeu is met by a roar of approval from the home supporters as the teams make their way out of the tunnel. These players and fans alike can't wait to get this game underway.
The Zidane era off to a flying start at the Bernabeu as goals from Karim Benzema - his 100th with the club - and Gareth Bale have them comfortably in front at the break. A key save from Navas with the game still scoreless really turned the tides of this match, as Los Blancos appear to be heading towards three points.
A Gareth Bale hat-trick, and two for Karim Benzema, ensures the Zinedine Zidane era gets off to a flying start at the Santiago Bernabeu. That's all for our live coverage from the Spanish capital, thanks for joining us today. Good bye!
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